
PI67 



TKIP 



INTO THE "SWATARA 1 REGION OF 
LEBANON COUNTY, 



PENNA. 



BY e. w. s. parthemore. 



Read at the monthly meeting of the Dauphin County Historical Society, December ISth, 189k. 

On motion of Wm. B. Egle, M. D., the thanks of the Society were 

tendered the author for the paper read. 



HARRISBURG, PA.: • 
Harrisburg Publishing Co. 

iS<)5- 



.Ul 



_ 
"Z 



IN THE SWATARA REGION. 



It was June 9th that a long contem- 
plated trip was begun, in company wilh a 
citizen of this city, to the beautiful Leb- 
anon Valley, Pa. "We started north from 
Palmstown, now Palmyra, across the 
gravel hill and soon turned to the east, pass- 
ing the school house known as Early's, from 
the fact that 'Squire William Early led the 
German element against the Scotch-Irish 
citizens in that section of Lebanon county 
in the free school fight. The Germans 
were not as much opposed to the free 
school system as they were to give up 
their parochial school at Bindnagle's 
church, where they educated for more 
than seventy-five years their children in 
both religious and secular training; but the 
election was gained by the Scotch- 
Irish for the free school system. No 
sooner, however, was this adopted, when 
'Squire Early donated the land in the lo- 
cality mentioned for the school house 
we have just passed on our trip to New 
Market Forge. Here we arrived after 
passing the home where Rev. George 
Mark resided many years, up to the be- 
ginning of the late war, and who with bis 
ancestry were early pioneers in Method- 
ism and afterwards leaders in the U. B. 
church in that section. 

We soon arrive at New Market Forge, 
or rather first at the factory mill, where 
about the year 1812 a number of wealthy 
gentlemen from Lancaster, Pa., at the 
head of which was a Mr. Heintzleman. 



established a very large cotton and woolen 
factory at a cost of $96,000. The product 
of the mill was counted equal to apy 
manufactured in the country. They lo- 
cated here on account of the large water 
power on the Quitopahilla creek, which 
empties into the Swatara a half mile 
below the factory. At the close of the 
war of 1812-14, the opening of our ports 
to foreign manufactures, brought ruin to 
this concern. It is now owned by Ezra 
Early and run as a chopping mill . Here 
it was that our companion began merchan- 
dising at the close of the year 1849, and 
it was with much pleasure we entered 
the house where our companion for life 
was born. The house is built against a 
hill, which we soon ascended to look 
upon the old graveyard which contains 
a number of graves, yet only two tomb- 
stones, with the following inscription: 

John Stauffer, d. August 14, 1822, aged 
56 years 5 months 19 days. He at one 
time was the operator of this mill in its 
declining days. 

The other tells us of the name and 
death of the son of an Englishman, who 
at one period expended his energies in 
this factory, Samuel Worthington, b. July 
11, 1819; d. March 5, 1827. 

Here we saw what was at one time.more 
than sixty years ago, a log school house 
which stood and did duty at "McGi'les 
Stettle," but now occupied as a black- 
smith shop, having been brought here 
years ago by our companion. 



in the Swatara Region. 



Proceeding up the creek a half mile we 
come to New Market Forge, which was 
one of the early iron industries in Dau- 
phin, now Lebanon county. The forge 
was erected at the close of the year 1792 
by Adam Orth and David Krause. The 
land upon which it was built, and that on 
which the dam spread its water, covered 
many acres. Some of the land was pur- 
chased from Peter Ney (a descendent of 
Nicholas Ney, b. June 6, 1742, in Ger- 
many, and came to America in the year 
1751) on January 13, 1792. This was pat- 
ented by the Province of Pennsylvania 
October 26, 1765, to John Adam Ney. 
He, by will dated December 14, 1792, left 
the same to his son, John Peter Ney, as 
above. Another tract of 171 acres, pat- 
ented November 7, 1761, to Cyrus Blough, 
which, by will dated February 24, 1793, 
left to his sons, John and Abraham 
Blough. They sold the same to Adam 
Orth and David Krause, with this "im- 
primis:" "Those lands and premises that 
shall or may hereafter be flowed, over- 
flowed and covered with water on the 
above mentioned tract of land and prem- 
ises by a dam intended to be erected and 
built on Quittapahilla creek, by the said 
Adam Orth and David Krause, to raise 
such dam to be erected for use of certain 
water works to be erected or built by the 
same Adam Orth and David Krause. " 
October 4, 1793, David Krause and wife, 
Begina, sold their half interest in the 
plant to Adam Orth. Adam Orth died in 
the year 1794 and left the property to his 
son Henry, and he with his wife, Barbara, 
January 19, 1797, sold the same to Henry 
Moyer, and the latter, in the year 1798, 



disposed of the same to John Kean and 
John Elder, of Harrisburg, for the sum of 
£22,000, and the following year Mr. Kean 
removed his family there. Since then the 
same has been owned and operated by a 
number of different persons, and was in 
operation until a few years ago, since 
which time the building has gone into de- 
cay and destruction, and no doubt the 
sound of the forge hammer on the banks 
of the Qaitopahilla has been silenced for 
ever, and the wrecking of capital by this 
enterprise is fulfilled for the last time, in 
the language of the Pennsylvania German 
poet: 

O! Forge'hammT, du grosz, erschreckllch's 
Thler, 

Du hoscht, achun, g'fresse drey order fler ; 
Den f unite hoscnt du a'h In Eaone— 
Dem werscht'8, Ja woiil, net basser maohe." 

Toe mill dam iB still there, backing 
up a lake of water covering eighty acres. 

On retracing our steps again to the fac- 
tory our attention was called to a green 
sward to the left of the road, once en- 
closed by a post and rail fence, which was 
the family burial place of the Raysor 
family, some of whom reside in this 
vicinity, while a TJ. B. church a few miles 
east of Harrisburg derives its name from 
that surname, and all evidences of fence 
and graves have disappeared. After leav- 
ing this place, Syner, which is 
the post office name, we pro- 
ceed in a northeasterly direction, 
soon come to the Swatara Creek, and are 
driving through the Maulfair farm, which 
Michael Maulfair (MaulvierorMohlwebr), 
had warranted to him by the Province of 
Pennsylvania, November 14, 1754. He 



In the Swatara Region. 



was a French Huguenot and came to 
America early in life. He was born in 
1729; died in 1807, and left numerous de- 
scendants, who continue to reside in that 
section. Michael Maulfair is buried at 
Bindnagle Church, where he was a com- 
municant and follower of the Reformer. 
His wife. Eve, born October 2, 1736 ; 
d. March 6, 1793, and lies buried by his 
side. 

We next come to the Swatara Creek, 
along whose shores we drive for some dis- 
tance, when we arrive at "Oil" Miller's 
ford, so named from the oil mill located 
nearby, and owned by a Mr. Miller a cen- 
tury ago. Here we cross the historic 
stream, yet not as they did a hundred 
years ago, but over a two- spanned iron 
bridge, and are now in the east end of 
Hanover township or the Swatara region 
proper, originally settled almost wholly by 
the Germans, except in that section we 
are traveling, where a few Scotch-Irish 
assisted in forming the nucleus of Hanover 
Presbyterian church, situate along the 
mountains at the Manada, some ten miles 
to the north and west of this point. 

As we descend the hill from the bridge, 
we cross the Union canal bed, which was 
one of the greatest and earliest internal 
improvements the American country wit- 
nessed at the close of the eighteenth cen- 
tury. As early as the year 1762 the cele- 
brated astronomer, David Rittenhouse, 
and the provost of the University of 
Pennsylvenia. sun eyed a route along the 
Swatara and Tulpehocken, for a canal to 
connect the waters of the Susquehanna 
and Schuylkill, and this very canal, now 
overgrown with pond lillies, grasB and 



weeds, with here and there a lonely frog 
croaking his doleful melody, passes over a 
portion of this old survey. Great were 
the plans of the progressive originators of 
this canal who foresaw a large highway 
for commerce from Lake Erie and the 
Ohio with the Delaware river. At this 
early date no such an avenue was in exist- 
ence in England, and, for our poor weak 
colonies to undertake this stupendous 
work was a Herculean task. The canal 
was not however finished until after 
a number of failures and as many 
renewals of American grit, when 
in the year 1827 the same was 
completed, after expending over $1.- 
600,000 and using the lottery, which was 
sanctioned by the Legislature, in assisting 
to raise money. 

We now proceed on our journey along 
this artificial stream, which was, but is 
not, our objective point, as the sun is 
nearing the meridian hour, and we reach 
the location of a great aunt to my chil- 
dren, but not until we pass the Goetz's 
locks, three in number, in less than half 
a mile, and if we had faith in "spooks" 
we would not venture to pass the lock 
houses at night. Here settled John Nich- 
olas Goetz, born June 22, 1736, in Europe, 
emigrated to America in 1775, arriving 
October 9th, in the ship 'King of Prus- 
sia." He was the son of Jacob and 
AppoloDia Goetz. He married March, 1775, 
just before his departure for America, 
Barbara Mechlin. He died at the age of 
66 years, 7 months and 10 days. His de- 
scendants reside in Dauphin and Lebanon 
counties. After enjoying a dinner such as 
only a Pennsylvania-German woman can 



In the Swatara Region. 



prepare, we left the Goetz settlement to 
return again at eventide. 

We now go direct north.passing Sherk's 
meejing house, owned by the United 
Brethren. ThiB is an old preaching place; 
the first church beiBg erected in the year 
1826. Here the late Bishop J. Erb, while 
traveling this circuit, organized in the year 
1827 the first class ever enrolled in the 
Church of the United Brethren in Christ. 
The ground upon which the church stands 
was deeded by Peter Sherk and wife, and 
in 1842, by an act of the Legislature, the 
same was sold by the Mennonite trustees 
to Jacob Albert, HeDry Neidig and George 
Bomgardner in trust for the U. B. church. 
Here are buried the Harpers, Sherks, Shel- 
lenbergers, Millers and Bomgardners. In 
the early days the ministers who spoke the 
Word at this plice were the three Lights, 
Felix, John and Casper, John Neidig, 
Roop and Funkhouser. 

After leaving this church *e sood reach 
the well known public highway "Jones- 
towi Road," below Zion Reformed and 
Lutheran church. Here are buried many 
of the descendants of the early German 
ancestry who settled here while the Indian 
yet traveled through the valley along the 
"Blue Mountains." The most numerous 
buried here are the Alberts; Deininger, 
Ulrich, Weis and Z'tnmerman. 

We soon arrived at Harper's tavern, a 
place for the entertainment of man and 
beast since 1740, where Adam Harper set- 
tled. It is on the north bank of the Swa 
tara. Adam Harper was one of the earliest 
pioneers in the eastern part of Hanover 
township as origina'dy organized. He was 
surrounded by Indians, who had a wigwam 



village near his cabin. Here, about 
1755, the Indians killed a number of white 
persons, and one, a sister of Major Leidig, 
was scalped and then escaped, and remark- 
able to relate survived the barbarous act 
and lived for years afterwards. Many 
were the atrocities perpetrated by the red 
men along the mountain in the neighbor- 
hood of the Manada and Swatara Gaps. 
Not far from here is where, during the 
year 1757, in the month of August, the 
savages bore down upon the early settlers 
and murdered and captured many ; while 
during the following year, to the east of 
this location, between Indiantown Gap 
and the Swatara, the depredations were 
numerous and the Indian cruelties very 
severe. Like the heaviest downpour of 
rain is at the end of the shower, so in this 
section, as we have said the cruelties were 
the most severe, they were also to be the 
last, which murdering occurred October 
23, 1758, by Adam Mosser and brother 
loBing their lives. 

After leaving Harper's we turn in the 
direction of the mountain and soon arrive 
at the place most important and the ob- 
ject of this trip. Walmer's Church, one of 
the oldest that was established by the 
early German settlers, although nothing 
more is said of this early preaching pla^e 
in our county histories save a passing re- 
mark. The first church was erected in 
1751 on ground donated by John Walborn 
or Walheimer, and is located on the banks 
of Read's creek, a small stream draining 
that portion of country. The stream took 
its name from Adam Read, an early 
Scotch-Irish settler in that sectio" and a 
Justice of the Peace. Adam Read, or 



In the Swatara Region. 



(■"quire Read, waB born in the year 1703; 
died February 2, 1769, and is buried at 
old Hanover Preebyterian church. Here 
in this section came as early settlers the 
Stewarts, Youngs, McCulloughs, McClin- 
licks, McLeans, McFarlands, Murray s, 
Glens, Woods and others from the north of 
Ireland and who composed tbe eastern end 
of the Presbyterians from Hanover town- 
ship who worshipped at the old church. 
Soon or probably about the same time 
came the sturdy German from the Pala- 
tinate and settled here, whose descendants 
are there to-day, while the Scotch-Irish- 
man has left for other portions of this 
great country. Mr. Walmer purchased a 
very large tract of land between the two 
branchPs of Read's Run from the proprie- 
tors August 14, 1751, and like all those 
who came from Germany was used to 
his cburch on Sunday, and feeling the 
necessity of a place of worship, he 
and his six sons erected a church in the 
old graveyard opposite to where the 
present church stands. The building was 
erected of heavy logs and in size was 
30x32 feet and not very high. It is 
said that it took them six days 
to raise the building, thus verifying 
the old German adage "Onhalt g'wint." 
The building was not completed, how- 
ever, for a number of years, it having no 
floor in it. The beams where the floor 
was subsequently laid on served as seats, 
or, modernly speaking, pews, during wor- 
ship. bu> soon the settlement increased by 
the coming of the ihueys, Gerberichs, 
Hetricks, Decker 3 , Bittners, Bneshores 
and others, when the church was finished, 
so that there was a comfortable place for 



the followers of Luther and Zwingli to 
worship; but no stove was used until 
many years after, when they secured one 
four feet long, weighing seven hundred 
pounds, and which no doubt was one of 
Baron Steigle's. Possibly the first minister 
to preach here was Rev. John Casper 
Stoever, of the Lutheran, and Conrad 
Tempelman, of the Reformed. Since the 
organization of the church the Reformed 
denomination predominated in members. 
Here also preached that eccentric doctor of 
medicine, Rev. William Stoy or Stoey. 
After serving in the active ministry a 
number of years he turned his attention 
to medicine, though he did not cease to 
preach, and when on a preaching trip he 
usuaily carried his saddle bags, containing 
medicine. He discovered an effective cure 
for hydrophobia, which is still in use, and 
a medicine popularly known as "Stoy's 
Drops." He was the first to introduce in- 
oculation for small-pox. He died in Leb- 
anon September 14, 1801, and some of his 
descendants reBide in this city. When he 
came to preach at this point it was usually 
on week days, with gun on his shoulder, 
the shot pouch on his side, and placing 
the same under the pulpit then went to 
preaching. It is related that one day he 
came, and, placing his accoutrements at 
their accustomed place, mounted the plat 
form and looking around found only a few 
old women on the logs, the men being en- 
gaged in the fields as it was summer, he 
said to those waitiDg to hear the Gospel 
preached : '"Soil ich do hin stahen und 
fuer diese paar alte Hexen pradigen, das 
duh ich nicht, will lieber gehn Gurhinkle 
schiesen." And so, true to his announce 



8 



In the Swatara Region. 



ment,he descended the platform with gun 
and shot pouch and out into the woods to 
shoot game. The Sabbath school is an 
old one, having a few years ago celebrated 
its semi-centennial. The present brick 
church building indicates care and a suc- 
cessful congregation, judging by the man- 
ner in which it is preserved by paint and 
cleanliness. 

After leaving thiB precious edifice we 
cross the public road to the old graveyard 
which has been a receptacle for the dead 
for nearly one hundred and fifty years. 
Here are buried those who have fought the 
battles against the world and Satan as 
well as the cause of their country during 
the revolution and rebellion. A. trans- 
script of the tombstones is herewith 
given : 

Aunspach, Lidia, b. March 9, 1852; d. 
September 21, 1873. 

Aungst, Isaac, b. May 3, 1834; d. Sep- 
tember 4, 1861. 

Bordner, Dan : el, b. January 21, 1807; d. 
March 5, 1887. 

Bordner, Anna M. (oee Tobias), b. March 
12, 1808; d. Januiry 11, 1885. 

Beisner, Frederick, b. August 6, 1806; 
d . August 6, 1864 

Beisner, Emeline, b. June 1, 1815; d, 
November 6, 1862 

Basehore, Jacob, b. April 2, 1816; d. 



Basehore, Barbara, wife of Jacob, b. 
February 3, 1781; d February 3, 1855 

Basehore, Molly, wife of Thomas (nee 
Shuey), b. December 14, 1822; d. Novem- 
ber 14, 1877. 

Brunner, Henrich, b. January 24, 1745; 
d. September 9, 1808. 



Brunner, Catharine, wife of Henrich, b. 
, 1749; died October 8, 1827. 

BrawD, Elizabeth, b. October 22, 1801 ; 
d May 12, 1837. 

Bittner, Jacob, b. September 12, 1774; 
d. March 26, 1845. 

Bohr, David D., b. March 3, 1842; d. 
May 1, 1871. 

Berry, Henry, b. October 8, 1812; d. 
October 26, 1848. 

Burgner, , b. November 29, 1811;- 

d. July 13. 1886. 

Bender, George, b. July 6, 1789; d. 
September 22, 1864. 

Decker. Catharine, b. July 14, 1772; d. 
July 5, 1844. 

Decker, Johann Adam, b. April 19, 
1757; d. February 2, 1843. [The time of 
our visit being a short time after Decora- 
tion Day we were forcibly impressed on 
finding a flag on his grave, when upon in- 
quiry we were informed that he was a sol- 
dier in the Revolution, and on a research 
we find that he was a private in Capt. 
Jacob Moser's company, Sixth Regiment, 
Penn'a. Line, enrolled in the spring of 
1777.] 

Decker. David, b February 8, 1816; d. 
December 26, 1836 

Donmoyer, Catharine, wife of J. ; b. 
June 15, 1817; d. July 15, 1870. 

Daubert, Elizibeth.wifeof Geo., b. Jan. 
8, 1831; d. Nov. 26, 1852. 

Daub, John, b. Sept. 13, 1798; d. Nov. 
12, 1863. 

Diub, Mary, wife of John, b. Dec. 22, 
1800; d. Dec. 20,1865. 

Fischer, Johannes, b. April 5, 1790; d. 
May 12, 1858. 



In the Swatara Region. 



9 



Fischer, Elizabeth, wife of J., b. De- 
cember 3, 1789; d. December 3, 1874. 

Fitler, Catharine, wife of Jacob, b. 
August 4, 1787; d. August 4, 1887. 

Gerberich, Jacob, son of Philip, b. No- 
vember 14, 1803; d. Oct. 14, 1821. 

Gerberich, Johannes, b. February 7, 
1769; d. September 18, 1843. 

Gerberich, Philip, b. June 29, 1769; 
d. October 29, 1846. 

Gerberich, Maria Elizabeth, wife of 
Philip, b. October 9, 1778; d. November 
7, 1856. 

Gerberich, , wife of George, b. 

October 7, 1818; d. March 11, 1891. 

Gerberich, J. 8., b. March 21, 1796; d. 
October 18, 1886. 

Gerberich, Magdalena, wife of G., nee 
Wenger, b. October 26, 1808; d. Septem- 
ber 3, 1864. 

Gerberich, Margaretta, wife of A, nee 
Walmer, b. June 31, 1770; d. June 15, 
1849. 

Gerberich, John Adam.b. April 13,1763; 
d. June 15, 1849. 

Gerberich, Barbara, wife of George, nee 
Schuey, b. October 7, 1803; d. Septem- 
ber 5, 1863. 

Gerberich, Oeorge, b. February 3, 1802; 
d. February 5, 1884. 

Gerberich. Catharine, wife of H., b. 
May 16, 1808; d. December 13, 1884. 

Gerberich, Henry, b. January 3, 1805; 
d. June 5, 1889. 

Gerberich, Rebecca, wife of T., nee 
Walmer, b. Februrry 11. 1826; d. July 26, 
1847. 

Gerberich, Adam, b. July 2, 1847; d. 
November 12, 1868. 



GroBS, Jonathan, b. January 22, 1842; 
d, March 26, 1863. Co. C, 93d Reg. 

Gross, John, b. March 13, 1813; d. 
February 9, 1851. 

Gingericb, Ferdinand, b. April 3, 1839; 
d. January 21, 1863. 

Gamber, Elizabeth, b. December 4, 
1840; d. August 2, 1862. 

Good, Charles, b. June 7, 1809; d. Oc- 
tober 7, 1849. 

Guth, Peter, b. March 9, 1779; d July 
S 1857. 

Guth, Rosina, b. Nov. 20, 1794; d. April 
11, 1870. 

Gerhart, Jacob, b. Jan. 17, 1805; d.Dec. 
3, 1876. 

Gerhart, Maria, wife of J., nee Albert, 
b. Aug. 25. 1803; d. April 2, 1851. 

Groff, George, b. April 17, 1809; d. April 
7, 1867. 

Groff, Elizabeth, wife of George, nee 
Walmer, b. July 19, 1812; d. Aug. 21, 
1881. 

Hoernafus, Elizabeth Barbara, daughter 
of Andrew, b. Feb. 15, 1771; d. Feb. 20, 
1786. 

Hednch, George, b. March 22, 1796; d. 
Sept. 13,1877. 

Hedrich, Christina, wife of G., b. Nov. 
22, 1797; d. Sept. 1.1878. 

Hetrich, Susan Sophia, wife of J., b. 
Feb. 20, 1769; d. June 24, 1855. 

Hedrich, John Adam.b. July 4, 1763; d. 
Feb. 8, 1845. 

Hunsicker, Christian, b. Dec. 29, 1772; 
d. March 7, 1854. 

Hunsicker, Barbara C, b. March 28, 
1786; d. Dec. 7, 1861. 

Hummel, David, b. June 24, 1823; d. 
Aug 15, 1854. 



10 



In the Swatara Region. 



Klick, John, b. April 26, 1787; 


d. May 


Proudfoot, Martha, b. April 3, 1842; 


5, 1855. 




drowned June 5, 1862. 


Klick, Michael, b. Jan. 6, 1789 


; d. May 


Proudfoot, Isabella, b. Dec. 24, 184G ; 


2, 1868. 




drowned June 5, 1862. 


Klick, Susanna, nee Hedrich, 


b. Dec. 


[The three above were drowned in the 


25, 1794; d. March 8, 1871. 




Swatara the time of the great flood caused 


Keefver Catharine, wife of G 


, b. Feb. 


by the break of the big dam in Swatara 


20, 1792jd.Nov. 10, 1863. 




Gap.J 


Kohr, Rebecca, wife of J., b. 


Dec. 14, 


Rank, Daniel, b. 1774; d. Oct. 2, 1864. 


1830; d. March 20, 1887. 




Rank, Maria E., wife of D., b. Jan. 13, 


Kohr, Leander, b. July 26, 1853 


; d. June 


1781; d.Sept. 11. 1854. 


11, 1870. 




Riegel, Nicholas, b. May 22, 1803 ; d. 


Kline, Elizabeth, wife of J., b, 


May 23, 


Dec. 5, 1889. 


1796; d. Jan. 22, 1852. 




Riegel, Elizabeth, b. Jan. 29, 1805 ; d. 


Kohr, Margaretta, wife of M., 


b. March 


May 24, 1873. 


5, 1789; d Nov. 9, 1863. 




Schuy, Barbara, b. Aug. 22, 1750; d. May 


Light, Thomas, b. Nov. 17, 


1812; d. 


8, 1814 


May 13, 1889. 




Schuy, J. Henrich, b. Mar 8, 1748; d. 


Loser, Peter, b. Feb. 9, 1827; 


d. April 


Oct. 15, 1804. [Son of Ludwig Shuey, b. 


30, 1864. 




Oct. 12, 1726; d. Feb. 25, 1775]. 


Loser, Lavina, wife of P., b 


Jan. 2, 


Schuey, Christian, b. Sept. 17, 1784; d. 


1831; d. April 4, 1864. 




Sept. 21, 1843. 


Mosser, George, b. March 14, 


1821; d. 


Schuey, Magdalena, wife of C, b. June 


June 1, 1890. 




15. 1789; d. 8ept. 14, 1870. 


Mosaer, John, b. Jan. 10, 1846; 


d.Sept. 


Schuey, Veronica, wife of J. L., nee 


2, 1863. 




Biand, b. Oct. 13, 1811; d. Sept. 11, 


Mosser, Daniel, b. Oct. 14, 


1776; d. 


1848. 


March 8, 1862. 




Schuey, Anna Margaretta, b. June 10, 


Mosser, Margaretta, nee Boeshore, d. 


1781; d. Aug. 7, 1844. 


Feb. 5, 1782; d. June 28, 1841. 




Schuey, Johan Ludwig, b. Aug. 28, 1776; 


Mease, Anna Maria, wife of P., 


b. April 


d. April 22, 1842 


13, 1795; d. Aug. 20, 1887. 




Schuey, Johanna, nee Brost, b. May 28, 


Natzenger, David, b. Jan. 30, 


1802; d. 


1788; d. Nov. 24, 1839. 


Nov. 30, 1851. 




Schuey, Anna, wife of G., b. May 1, 


Natzenger, Esther, wife of D. 


b. Nov. 


1795; d. April 12, 1872. 


1. 1807; d. Oct. 25, 1852. 




Schuey, Geo., b. 1790; d. Dec. 2, 1864. 


Proudfoot, James, b. 1810; d. 


Dec. 14, 


[A private in Benj. Lesner's Company, 1st 


1875. 




Reg., 1st Brigade, Col. Maxwell Kennedy, 


Proudfoot, Anna, b. March 


14. 1814; 


war of 1812. A flag also decorated this 


drowned June 5, 1862. 




grave through the G. A. R ] 



In the Sioatara Region. 



11 



Schuhe, Thomai, b. March 17, 1819; d. 


Woods, Johannes, b. Sept. 20, 1790; d. 


Dec. 14, 1855. 


Oct. 14, 1830. 


Shuey, John, b. Aug. 18, 1708; d. Sept. 


Woods, James, b. Aug. 22. 1750; d. 


11, 1864. 


Aug. 20, 1827. [A Revolutionary soldier; 


Shuey, Elizabeth, b. Mar. 9, 1806, d. 


grave decorated with flag. He was a son 


May 23, 1860. 


of Col. Joseph Wood, the French and In- 


Shuey, Joseph W., b. Mar. 19, 1813; d. 


dian war soldier and colonel in the Revo- 


Not. 18, 1887. [A. private in the Rebel- 


lution.] 


lion, Co. A, Capt. We M. Derr, 93d Pa. 


Woods, Catharine, wife of J , nee 


Vol. Reg ] 


Mayers, b. May 15, 1763; d. May 30, 


Spangler, John S.. b. Mar. 28, 1351; d. 


1804. 


Feb. 7, 1878. 


Walmer, John, b. June 18, 1780; d. 


Stein, Catharine, wife of Q., b. Dec. 14, 


Aug. 21, 183. 


1784; d. Feb. 14, 1863. 


Walmer, Elizabeth, b. 1781; d. Aue. 5, 


Stine, Henry, b. Aug. 1, 1807; d. June 


1831. 


7, 1872. 


Walmer, John, b. Feb. 12, 1837; d. Jan. 


Stine, Amos, b. Aug. 23, 1822 ; d. April 


6, 1862. 


7, 1875. 


Walmer, Peter, b. April 13, 1774, d. 


Stine, Daniel, b. Mar. 14, 1798; d. May 


June 5, 1844. 


26, 1875. 


Walmer, Barbara, nee Fischer, b. Feb. 


Stine, Elenora, wife of D., b. Sept. 10, 


27, 1776; d. Jan. 1, 1854. 


1819, d. Feb. 25, 1876. 


Walmer, Elizabeth, b. Dec. 20, 1828; d. 


Stump, Anna Maria, wife of H., b. May 


March 27, 1891. 


7, 1789; d. June 24, 1856. 


Walmer, Elizabeth, b. Nov. 5, 1835; d. 


Stump, Heinrich, b. Dec. 1, 1784; d. 


March 3, 1891. 


May 27, 1856. 


Walmer, Susannah, b. Aug. 17, 1798; d. 


Schreckengust, Leonard, b. 1786; d. 


May 5, 1881. 


Bept. 19, 1856. 


Walmer, Johannes, b. Jan. 20, 1799; d. 


Schreckengust, Mary, b. Jan. 29, 1799; 


July 3, 1868. 


d. May 29, 1860. 


Walmer, David, b. April 16, 1803 ; d. 


Tobwp, Ann Elizabeth, daughter of 


Nov. 11, 1859. 


George, h. Nov. 20, 1784; d. July 24,1866. 


Walmer, Henrich, b. Aug. 18, 1805; d. 


Tobias, Solomon, b. July 1, 1812; d. 


March 22. 1841. 


Nov. 11, 1881. 


Walmer, Sarah, b. Oat. 4, 1812; d. April 


Tobias, Catharine, wife of 8., nee Wal- 


21, 1882 


mer, b. June 25, 1814; d. Jan. 23, 1854. 


Wallis, Johannes, b. Jan. 12, 1758; d. 


Uhrich, Henrich, b. April 8, 1780; d. 


Nov. 25, 1824. 


June 4, 1849. 


Walmer, Johannes, (son of John, the 


Uhrich, Elizabeth, nee Brecbbill,b. May 


progenitor,) b. Aug 31, 1776; d. Nov. 15, 


30,1791; d. Aug. 23, 1844. 


1831. 






12 



In the Swatara Region. 



Walmer, Habiaa, wife of J, , b. April 4, 
1778; d. June 4, 1861. 

Walmer, Jacob, b. Oct. 12, 1809; d. 
March 14, 1873. 

Walmer, Catharine, b, March 27, 1812; 
d. Dec. 23, 1869, 

Walter, John, b. Jan. 3, 1786; d. Oct. 9, 
1871. 

Walter, Magdalena, b. Jan. 29, 1787; d. 
Sept. 17, 1866. 

Zehring, Eva Barbara, nee Decker, b. 
Jan. 1, 1795; d. Aug, 10, 1868. 

Zehring, John, b. Jan. 10, 1791 ; d. May 
23, 1867. 

On the following morning we took our 
Toute to the east and soon reached Bell- 
view (Bellgrove P. O.), where reside the 
Marks for six generations, and soon passed 
the old Methodist church, one mile to the 
north of the village, though now owned 
by the Dunkards. The early ministers of 
the faith of John Wesley held services in 
this section at a very early day, in fact the 
communicants of the Methodist Episcopal 
church in this section antedates the his- 
tory of the church in any other portion of 
Dauphin and Lebanon counties. Here as 
early as 1790, Adam Mark, son ot 
Killian Mark, was a communicant 
of the Methodist connection. He was 
born March 20, 1767; died October 20, 
1814. We have in our possession some of 
his Methodist books, viz: Methodist Hymn 
Book, N. T., 1811, printed by Daniel 
Hitt; Methodist Conference Minutes of 
America from 1773-1813. New York, 
printed by Daniel Hitt; Truth Vindicated, 
by John Ffirth, printed by J. C. Totten, 
New York, 1810; The Experience of 
Eminent Methodist Preachers, Chambers- 



burg, Pa., printed by Thomas Yeats and 
Thomas Johns, 1812. When the M E . 
discarded the German speaking element 
in the rural districts and refused to supply 
them with German preaching they drifted 
over to the TJ. B. Church, and from then 
until now most of those Methodist mem- 
bers' descendants are adherents of the 
United Brethren in Christ. The Method- 
ist grave yard is situate one-fourth mile 
farther east from the church and contains 
a number of graves. From the tombstones 
we make the following transcripts: 

Ashmead, Edward, b. Dec. 25, 1804; d. 
May 22, 1849. 

Mark, Adam, b. March 20, 1757; d. Oct. 
20, 1814 [son of Eillian Mark or Marck 
came to America in 1735], 

Mark, Margaretta, wife of A., daughter 
of John and Elizabeth Miller, b. M*y 28, 
1760; d. August 3, 1850. 

Mark, Adam, b. January 10, 1788; d. 
Dec. 17. 1862. 

Mark, Barbara, wife of A, b. Aprll^, 
1787; d. March 20, 1863. 

Mark, Henry, b. April 20, 1788; d. Oct. 
15, 1834. 

Mark, Daniel E., b. November 8, 1825; 
d. February 1, 1855. 

Miller, John Peter, b. February 15, 1759; 
d. March 30, 1838. 

Miller, Philippenia, wife of J. P., nee 
Steinmennen, b. 1773; d. June 21, 1831. 

Miller, John Adam, b. May 26, 1777; d. 
Dec. 3, 1845. "He was for many years 
class leader in the Methodist Episcopal 
church. ' ' 

Miller, Catharine, wife of J. A., daugh- 
ter of Jacob Kramer, b. Oct. 26, 1775; d. 
August 27, 1814. 



In the Swalara Reyion. 



13 



Runkle, Sarah, wife ot John, nee Mark, 
b. June 29, 1811; d. Feb. 8, 1824. 

Rankle, Lydia, daughter of Henry L. and 
Christina, b. Oct. 29, 1818; d. June 7, 1860. 

Runkle, Henry L., b. May 15, 179:; d. 
Aug. 23, 1860. 

Schmucker, Samuel, b. August, 1805; d. 
February, 1832. 

Walter, Magdalen a, wife of Joseph, b. 
May 17, 1776, d. Nov. 30, 1841. 

The last place we visited was the Gravel 
Hill Meeting House of the United Breth- 
ren, situated one mile north of Palmyra, 
from which elevation we have one of the 
most charming views the eye could look 
upon— to the south you have a beautiful 
landscape view of the Lebanon Valley, 
while to the north is the outstretched 
lands of the Hanovera, fortified in the 
rear by the Blue or Kittatinny Mountains, 
with the declining sun of another day 
kissing the mountains away beyond the 
Susquehanna. As we read the lessons of 
immortality from the gravestones attached 



to this church we were forcibly struck 

with the tranBitoryness of man from these 

lines on one of the stones : 

"Parents, good afternoon. 

My work is done. 

I go to rest with the setting sun, 

But not to wake witn the morning light, 

So, dearest parents, a long good night." 

At another stone we pause to read in 
the Pennsylvania-German this touching 
admonition : 
"Die Glocke schlagt, und zeight darmit, 
Die zeit hat ab^enommen 
Ich bin schon vider einen schritt 
Dem grabe naher kommen 
Mein Jesu schleg an meine Brust 
Weil mir die Stunde nicht bewust 
Die meine zeit bescblusset." 
While the declining sun hides behind 
the Eittatinny mountain we descended 
the hills to the depot at Palmyra and 
enter the swift coach of the P. & R. R. R. 
and soon find ourselves in the city of Har- 
risburg. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 314 681 9 



'.' 



